Epilepsy is a chronic medical problem in which a person presents with recurrent unprovoked seizures. The estimated prevalence of epilepsy is 8 per 1000 people in Nigeria. Seizures are caused by abnormal firing of nerve cells on one or both sides of the brain. There are two main types of seizures, focal and generalized seizures. Focal seizures start in a particular part of the brain. Symptom vary depending on the part affected.
Symptoms include appearing dazed or confused, rhythmic movements or jerking of one side, repetitively picking at clothes, lip-smacking, wandering around confused. At times, this may progress to a generalized seizure. Generalized seizures involve both sides of the brain. During a generalized seizure, consciousness may be impaired or lost. Their arms and legs may stiffen and jerk rhythmically. Consciousness gradually returns at the end. They may have urinary or fecal incontinence.
Other types of generalized seizures include sudden loss of tone, sudden jerks, sudden whole body stiffening, or starring without memory of the events.